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Dublin
#56 of 124
Europe

Dublin

Ireland

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Dublin compare to Auckland?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Dublin is 21% better off vs in Auckland

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Dublin compared to Auckland, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$125,602
+$56K (+79%) vs Auckland
Based on 1007 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$81,239
+$33K (+67%) vs Auckland
Tax Rate: 35%

Community Insights

New
6.8/10

Dublin presents a sharp contrast between elite career opportunities and lifestyle friction. As the "Silicon Valley of Europe," it offers software engineers access to top-tier employers and salaries ($119k median) that dwarf most continental alternatives. However, the housing crisis is not an exaggeration; Reddit threads are filled with warnings about the extreme difficulty of finding accommodation, often citing it as the single biggest stressor. While the Critical Skills Employment Permit makes the legal move straightforward, the physical move is challenging. Residents enjoy the English-speaking culture and social vibrancy but frequently lament the high cost of living, grey weather, and pockets of street-level anti-social behavior. Ultimately, it is a city where you go to accelerate your career and save money (if you can navigate the rent), rather than for a relaxed, sun-filled lifestyle.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Auckland.

Rankings

Net Income

Top 31%

#38

of 124 cities

$81,239/yr

Current value

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#49

of 124 cities

≈7.1 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#50

of 124 cities

8 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Dublin compared to Auckland?

Avg. Property Price
$7,168 / m²
7% more expensive than Auckland
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Dublin to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
38% more expensive than Auckland
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Dublin

HubSpot logo
HubSpot
Stripe logo
Stripe
Google logo
Google
Major Tech Hub: Home to the European headquarters of Google, Meta, Stripe, and Amazon ("Silicon Docks"), offering world-class career growth and resume value.
  • High Earning Potential: One of the highest paying cities for software engineers in Europe, with significant RSU/stock packages available in top-tier companies.
  • English-Speaking Environment: No language barrier for work or daily life, making it the easiest EU transition for English speakers.
  • Critical Skills Visa: The Critical Skills Employment Permit is streamlined and efficient for tech workers, offering a fast track to residency (Stamp 4) after just 2 years.
  • Gateway to Europe: Easy access to the rest of Europe for travel, with a very connected international airport.
  • Vibrant Pub Culture: A social scene heavily centered around historic pubs and live music, creating a lively atmosphere despite the weather.

    • The Bad

    • Severe Housing Crisis: Extremely low supply of rentals and sky-high prices; residents often face "viewing queues" of hundreds of people or bidding wars for basic apartments.
    • High Cost of Living: Ranked #105 of 124 for affordability; everyday expenses (eating out, car insurance, services) are noticeably higher than in many EU capitals.
    • Anti-Social Behavior: Frequent Reddit complaints about "feral youth" gangs and aggressive teenagers harassing commuters, particularly in the city center and on the Luas (tram).
    • Gloomy Weather: Consistent grey skies, wind, and rain (117 rainy days/year); the lack of sunshine (#119 rank) is a frequent source of seasonal depression.
    • Public Transport Gaps: While the DART and Luas are decent, the bus network can be unreliable, and living outside the immediate transport corridors necessitates a car.
    • High Income Tax: Progressive tax rates (up to 52% marginal rate including USC/PRSI) can make the high gross salary feel significantly lower in net take-home pay.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Visa processes for tech workers are highly efficient (Critical Skills Permit), and there is zero language barrier. However, the housing shortage complicates the physical move immensely, often requiring weeks of Airbnb stays before securing a lease. The expat community is massive and welcoming.

    Who Is This City For?

    Career climbers focused on adding FAANG/MNC names to their CVs and English-speakers who want EU residency without learning a new language. Avoid if you are rent-sensitive, value sunny weather, or have a low tolerance for urban grit and anti-social behavior.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather3.9/10-55% vs Auckland
    Safety46-7%
    Pollution41+35%
    Events8+167%
    3.9/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in Auckland

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    13°C(vs 18°C in Auckland)
    Average Low
    7°C(vs 13°C in Auckland)
    Sunshine Hours
    1,453h/yr-550h/yr(-27%)
    Hottest Month High
    19°C(vs 23°C in Auckland)
    Coldest Month Low
    3°C(vs 9°C in Auckland)
    Rainy Days
    117/yr+20/yr(+21%)

    Community & Quality

    Dublin community pulse

    Dublin has 8 Luma events listed.

    167% more events than Auckland.

    Pollution Score

    Middle of the pack

    #50

    of 124 cities

    41.4/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #56

    of 124 cities

    Comfortable Weather

    Middle of the pack

    #72

    of 124 cities

    39/100 weather score

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Bottom 27%

    #92

    of 124 cities

    45.8/100

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 27%

    #92

    of 124 cities

    35%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 16%

    #106

    of 124 cities

    69/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    7.1 years
    3.9 years quicker than Auckland
    Muggy Days
    0/yr-11/yr(-100%)
    Cloud Cover
    58%(vs 39% in Auckland)